WTS claims "Only we endure!" (Worship Book ch 14)

ozziepost

At the last District Convention, the book "Worship the Only True God" was released intended to be used along with the "Knowledge" book on home Bible studies. Both books are to be studied before baptism. So, what are the 'new recruits' learning ?

The book claims that Jehovah and Jesus head up an organization of people here on earth who are “directed” by Jesus, in fulfillment of his promise “Look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matt. 28:20)

Note, then, this claim, in paragraph 6:

“Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses acknowledge Jesus’ direction. Without that, proclaiming the Kingdom message in the face of intense hostility would be impossible.”

Note especially the expression “Without that, proclaiming the Kingdom message would be impossible”.

The question must be asked, What of the missionaries sent out by Christian churches who also are enduring much persecution in ‘foreign’ lands for bearing the name of Christ?

How are they able to “proclaim the Kingdom message in the face of intense hostility”? The book implies that only Dubs are facing intense hostility but this is far from the truth. Right now, Christians are being severely persecuted in the lands of Armenia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indeia, Indonesia, Kazakstan, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Romania, Sudan, Tajikistan and Vietnam. It has been said that the twentieth century has been a time of the most intense persecution of Christians for 2,000 years.

Yet the book claims that the Dubs withstanding “intense hostility” is an evidence of Jesus’ direction and “Jehovah’s organization”.

Conclusion: they ain’t, so they’re not!

Cheers, Ozzie

minimus

But Oz, KNOWING that JW's are the ONLY TRUE religion around, it doesn't matter if all the other (false) religions experience hardships in their ministries. Remember, Satan is clever and can make himself into anangel of light! So don't get fooled, Oz.

onacruse

This "persecution paranoia" and "martyr complex" have become such an integral part of JW mentality. Seems to me that it pretty much started under Rutherford. He (unlike Russell) went out of his way to repeatedly insult and provoke people of other religions and political organizations, and when he got the predictable backlash, he ran around screaming "we're being persecuted!"

Whatever happened to "pray for the king" and "as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men?"

Craig

garybuss

Once a person sits down with a Witness to study, once a person has suspended critical analysis, once a person has accepted that the desired promise is possible to attain, even on a fantasy level, that person is lost to reality until a setback of large enough proportions to reintroduce reality to the conscious mind occurs.

mizpah

It is the mindset of a cult to put everything in terms of "we" and "they" in the same context they speak of "good" and "evil." It has long been a practice, not only of the Watchtower, to demonize every enemy so that it becomes easy to hate...and even to kill. Nations have been doing this for centuries.

Sadly, it takes away the humanity of those not believing as Jehovah's Witnesses. That is why it is easy for them to think in terms of billions dying at Armageddon.

I also think the change did come during the time of Rutherford, Onacruse. In spite of the controversies that surrounded Russell, he seems to come across as a tolerant and compassionate man...maybe with the exception of his conduct toward his wife. In contrast, Rutherford seems to be a real autocrat who ruled with an iron hand. No doubt his imprisonment during WW1 had a lot to do with his "persecution paranoia." One only has to wonder what direction the Watchtower Society would have taken if the men who were appointed by Russell in his will took control.

ozziepost

Let us not overlook the fact that the WTS is in this reference claiming that the persecution is an identifier of the Dubs being the "true Christians" who alone are marked for salvation.

Cheers, Ozzie

refiners fire

..."in the face of intense hostility"...

I want to know where this intense hostility is. Well, okay oz, like you say they are persecuted along with other Christians and Momos in lands where upheaval abounds,but anyone who goes freely into a war zone deserves what they get.

There is no intense hostility of the type portrayed in WT images...snarling, violent people on the doors rejecting the message with threats of violence. 99 percent of the hapless ones answering the door were polite far as I remember. A few slammed the door, who can blame them?If some twit kept knocking on my door once a month after Id made it clear I wasnt interested.... Actually, the people answering the doors in the Western world, when you consider it, are damn reasonable.

rocketman

The book implies that only Dubs are facing intense hostility but this is far from the truth. Right now, Christians are being severely persecuted in the lands of Armenia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indeia, Indonesia, Kazakstan, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Romania, Sudan, Tajikistan and Vietnam. It has been said that the twentieth century has been a time of the most intense persecution of Christians for 2,000 years.

Excellent point Ozzie. And the main reason why jws are not the only ones being persecuted is because they are not the only ones preaching, though they want people to think that.

This is one more example of how they apply the Bible to themselves only....a cult charactaristic.

WTS claims "Only we endure!" (Worship Book ch 14)

Share this